DISNEY - SAG CHIEF STRIKE WOULD NOT SHUT DOWN INDUSTRY

SAG CHIEF STRIKE WOULD NOT SHUT DOWN INDUSTRY

Screen Actors Guild National Executive Director Doug Allen insisted today (Tuesday) that should the union go on strike it would in "no way" shut down the industry. In an email message to union members, he observed that the strike would have no effect on work done under commercial contracts, or those for basic cable, video games and independent movie projects. Significantly, he also noted that actors who have dual membership with AFTRA would also be able to continue to work on "any AFTRA-covered projects in [AFTRA's] jurisdiction." Allen added, "A strike of our TV/Theatrical contracts would be a serious step we hope to avoid, but even if the working actors on SAG's National Board were authorized and ultimately voted to call a strike, that decision would affect only work on primetime network shows, pay TV shows (e.g., HBO), and movies made, financed or distributed by AMPTP companies (e.g., Sony, Warner Bros., Disney, Twentieth Century Fox, Paramount, NBC Universal, etc.). Not 'the entire industry.'" He did not indicate what percentage of the industry's workforce would be affected.

30/12/2008